DRAGON FIRE

This Arrow Dynamics looping coaster is classified as “extreme” by Roller Coaster Database.  The stats are not particularly impressive but the ride could be said to be extreme in terms of its intensity.  With seven cars seating two across and accommodating four riders for a total capacity of twenty eight, the train makes a left turn out of the station and ascends a 78-foot lift hill, drops 78 feet and travels through two consecutive loops.  At a maximum speed of 50 mph, it turns left and goes through a double corkscrew.   This is followed by a right turn, after which the train enters a helix before returning to the station.   What makes this coaster somewhat unique is that it’s the only Arrow Dynamics coaster on which the riders go through the corkscrew element in a counterclockwise direction.  Unique or not, this ride is, in my opinion, torturous.   At 1 minute 30 seconds, it’s mercifully short – mercifully because it’s rough to the point of being painful.   I got such an ear-boxing that nothing would tempt me to ride it again.   Dragon Fire is by no means uninteresting but I found it unenjoyable in the extreme.  2 out of 5 stars.   Photograph courtesy of Canada’s Wonderland.  For more information about rides at Canada’s Wonderland, visit www.canadaswonderland.com

VORTEX

Although I’d ridden a number of inverted coasters, I’d never ridden a suspended coaster, so that this was a new experience.   Built by Arrow Dynamics, Vortex is one of several coasters configured around Canada’s Wonderland’s Wonder Mountain.  Consisting of six cars seating two across in rows of two,  the train proceeds directly from the loading station up a 91-foot lift hill, reaching the centre of the mountain, before making a right turn and dropping 85 feet.  It negotiates a series of sweeping sideways turns, flying over the grass and at one point swooping just over the water.   What makes this ride especially dynamic is that the cars swing freely from side to side, resulting in lateral g forces.    I found, however, that the swinging motion also contributes to the ride’s being a bit rough in spots.   Given the coaster’s design, the restraints are, not surprisingly, harnesses.  With a speed of 55 mph, Vortex is the fastest coaster of this type in operation as of 2014.  3 out of 5 stars.    For more information about rides at Canada’s Wonderland visit www.canadaswonderland.com 

BACKLOT STUNT COASTER

A linear induction motor launch coaster, Backlot Stunt Coaster is themed after the chase scene at the end of the film Italian Job.  The train consists of three cars, each seating four riders, two across, that look like exactly that – cars.   From the station the train is launched in 3 seconds from 0 to 40 mph and enters a right upward helix before dropping, veering right and going through several mainly left-banked turns.  While this is happening, it passes police cars and highway signs.  It comes to a stop and there is a second launch into a tunnel.  In total darkness the train twists around several times before emerging into daylight, banking left and heading back to the station.   As originally designed by Premier Rides, the coaster featured numerous special effects but most of these have been removed.  I actually rode this coaster by accident, thinking that I had entered the queue for a completely different coaster, but found the ride to be highly entertaining.  Backlot Stunt Coaster gets 3 out of 5 stars.  Photo courtesy of Canada’s Wonderland. For more information about rides at Canada’s Wonderland, visit www.canadaswonderland.com

FLIGHT DECK - CANADA'S WONDERLAND

Formerly known as Top Gun and nicely themed after the film of that name,  Flight Deck is a Vekoma extreme inverted coaster featuring five inversions including a roll over, sidewinder and double in-line twist.  Please see my review of Mind Eraser; as far as I can determine, Flight Deck is essentially the same ride.  The stats and elements are identical.  And so is the roughness of the ride, the only difference being that whereas Mind Eraser was equally rough on the head, neck and shoulders, Flight Deck was primarily rough on the shoulders – so brutally rough that a day after riding it my shoulders were still sore.  2 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Canada’s Wonderland, visit www.canadaswonderland.com

BEHEMOTH

This B&M hypercoaster is noteworthy for both the height and length of the ride.  Seating only two across in eight rows staggered so that in the first row the seats are side by side and in the second spaced apart, the train makes a right turn from the station before ascending a 230-foot lift hill.   It then drops 215 feet at a 75-degree angle, drops again and goes up into a hammerhead turn.   From the front row, the hang time over the initial drop is absolutely mind-blowing, more intense than that on any other coaster I’d ridden.  It was equivalent to experiencing ejector airtime before the train even dropped.  After the hammerhead turn are three consecutive airtime-filled drops – the last of which is over a lake - followed by a brake run.  The train then enters a helix and navigates several bunny hills before returning to the station.  Unlike other B&M coasters of roughly similar design, on which the restraints consist of only lap bars, this one has both lap bars and seat belts.  This towering monster is aptly named.  Smooth, fast and powerful, Behemoth is a coaster well worth riding.  And with a ride duration of 3 minutes 10 seconds, you get a lot of ride for your money.  5 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Canada’s Wonderland, visit www.canadaswonderland.com

LEVIATHAN

One of only four giga coasters (full-circuit coasters between 300 and 399 feet in height) in existence as of 2014, Leviathan is the tallest coaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard and a sight to behold.  Seating four across in eight rows, the train makes a right turn from the loading station before ascending a 306-foot chain lift hill.  The chain lift is impressively fast.  Once at the top, the train drops a precipitous 306 feet at an 80-degree angle into a tunnel, and what a drop!  It was breathtaking.  The initial drop is followed by an overbanked right turn and second drop (location of the on-ride camera), after which the train turns sharply left.  The left turn comes as a complete surprise and provides some good ejector airtime.   Another drop and the train shoots up into a camelback.  At one point it crosses the track.  There is no brake run until the conclusion of the ride, as the train is returning to the station. With multiple airtime hills (lots of floater airtime) hammerhead turn and maximum speed of 92 mph, the ride is first class from start to finish.  Leviathan is smooth, fast, furious and fun. 5 out of 5 stars.  For more information about rides at Canada’s Wonderland, visit www.canadaswonderland.com